<Begin Segment 6>
SY: What do you remember about your grandmother?
YM: She was a nice lady. No. She was, from my point of view, she was a very lovable lady. And she took care of me after she raised her two children, and I think she did so much for me like -- well, maybe other grandmother did the same thing, but she used to take me to the library every Saturday, and she even took me to my first dance. She sat through the dance and brought me, took me there, and brought me home. My biggest regret is I never told her how much I loved her. So I wish all the young people would remember that. It's nice to tell your folks. It's nice to tell your relatives how much they appreciate what they have done for you. It's not, hey, what are you going to do for me next. It's nice to know. That's my biggest regret. I didn't tell my grandmother.
SY: That's good information for all of us to remember. I think we forget to do that especially when you are young and we can see, we have our health. You mentioned that in many ways your grandmother spoiled you.
YM: That's what my uncle used to say, but I don't think so. Maybe she did, but then, I don't think I turned out that bad.
SY: What did your grandmother do to earn an income?
YM: Oh. She had a -- I think when I wasn't born yet, I think she had a little hotel, but that is all hearsay so I can't say for sure. But I know as I grew older, as I grew up, maybe I was about four or five, she had a big house where she rented out rooms. And it's not really a boarding. I don't know -- what you called it? She just rented the rooms out to the bachelors or to older men.
SY: Would it be mostly men, or would there be families?
YM: Huh?
SY: Only men in this hotel?
YM: It's just men, just men.
SY: What was the name of this building?
YM: It didn't have any building. It didn't have any name. It was just a big house.
SY: Oh, I see.
YM: It was just a big house and she didn't feed them, but for holidays or Christmas, she always did something and invite them.
SY: Where was this located?
YM: Huh?
SY: Where was this house located?
YM: Oh, it was on 8th Avenue. It's not there anymore.
SY: Is that Japantown?
YM: Yeah.
SY: Nihonmachi?
YM: Nihonmachi.
Yukiko M. Interview - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved. - <End Segment 6>